The 1788A-D from Aphex is an eight channel, remote controlled microphone preamp with the optional digital output module built-in. The unit addresses many of the noise issues that plague preamps including long microphone level cables, splitters and multiple inputs that reduce the sensitivity of the microphone and change its frequency, phase and transient response. The unit can provide up to five outputs per channel (two analog and three digital), all available simultaneously essentially eliminating the need for splitter boxes.
By placing the 1788A close to the microphones and controlling it remotely, the need for long cable runs is eliminated. Phantom power on a microphone line also causes the line itself to become a microphone. Having the phantom power source as close as possible to the microphone reduces the chance of phantom voltage loss within a very long cable run. A built-in limiter in the front-end of the preamp provides protection against overloading the preamp.
The installed 1788A-1 digital option provides three digital outputs that appear on a single DB15 connector and four BNC connectors for AES/EBU, along with two ADAT optical outputs. The 24-bit analog to digital converters feature selectable sampling rates that can be generated from an internal clock or an external source. The A/D converter circuit is drift stabilized which eliminates DC without resorting to a digital high-pass filter. Wordclock input and output is available on BNC connectors.
The 1788SW controller software (Windows 95/98/2000/XP or Mac OS X compatible) features a screen which displays all parameters and metering of a single unit. Up to 16 units may be called up displaying in real-time all modifiable channel status information and metering. Up to 20 scenes can be saved, modified and recalled. The software also contains a "learn" function in which the channel(s) adjust the preamp gain to a definable peak value based on the input level during the "learn" period.